There is no right or wrong to this question. It is not a trick question either. It is one I read in a newspaper a couple of years ago and thought I would post it to see what you think.

If all the Kings and Queens of England and Wales (and Scotland since 1602) since 1066 were alive at the same time - which one do you think would be the boss?

Arlene <><

To be honest I don't think this forum is the correct one for this type of question, this is for attempting to find an actual answer. It might be better suited to The World Around Us so I will move it there for you.

Interesting question.

Thank you. I saw this in a newspaper, as I said, but never saw any answers. Occasionally I will think on it, and wonder how other people would answer it themselves. It's a poser.

GBY

Arlene <><

Well, which monarch was the greatest thug of them all? Henry VIII?

I have to admit that my first choice was Henry VIII, but then I wondered at the relationship with his father - Henry VII. In the same way, but in reverse, there were monarchs who were not in awe of the previous one - such as Queen Victoria.

Arlene <><

The mind boggles at the thought of a confrontation between Henry VIII and Victoria, and much would depend on when it happened. However, I have no doubt Henry VIII would have absolutely no time for Victoria's moral earnestness and would simply give the order: "Off with her head!" What's more he wouldn't lose any sleep over it ...

One would like to think that if the living world were to be suddenly infested with a plethora of resurrected zombie British monarchs that a quick call to Rentokill would produce a similarly resurrected Oliver to return them all from whence they came.

'Enry VIII as boss? I doubt it. Too pampered. Besides he wouldn't be popular with the previously crowned Catholics, I reckon. And Victoria, being female, would have little support from those who reigned earlier on in the piece, either. Besides that, she came to the throne at a time when the monarch had few powers so her abilities as a leader in anything more than a figurehead sense would be questionable.

I think we need to look back further. Edward Longshanks was a pretty tough and intelligent bloke. Bit of an iron fist kind who was popular with his people (although not too popular with the Scots).

And what about the man who started it all, William I? It's a tough choice with so many varied options.

Going waaaay back, I think Henry II would have had a pretty good shot. Good at throwing his weight around, shrewd politically, and probably would be able to secure the popular vote

Although her gender would set her back amongst all the others, Elizabeth I would have found a way to be boss. In fact, Henry II would probably have married her

I was going to answer William I too, but then I thought about beeblebrox's post, and well Henry II very probably could beat William. Both he and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine ranked amongst the most powerful couple in Europe in their time.

Henry II was also father to two of the best-known English kings of the Middle Ages, and they shared his blood after all, so I'm going to vote for him. Henry II is my man.